Best colleges for English Language and Literature/Letters
Any instructional program in English language and literature not listed above.
52 U.S. institutions graduated 869 English Language and Literature/Letters students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 23.9999, a specialization of English Language and Literature/Letters (CIP 23.99), and leads most directly to the English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1123).
About English Language and Literature/Letters programs
Any instructional program in English language and literature not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The English Language and Literature/Letters program focuses on the study of English language and literature, encompassing various instructional methods not specifically categorized elsewhere. This program is designed for students who are passionate about exploring the complexities of language, literature, and communication, preparing them for diverse opportunities in education and beyond.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and critical thinking. Coursework may include topics like writing and literature, providing a comprehensive understanding of English language and its applications in various contexts.
Credentials awarded
What English Language and Literature/Letters graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree550 graduates / yr · 26 institutions63%
- Master's degree125 graduates / yr · 14 institutions14%
- Associate's degree120 graduates / yr · 4 institutions14%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years25 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.9%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year22 graduates / yr · 4 institutions2.5%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship14 graduates / yr · 5 institutions1.6%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate8 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.9%
- Post-master's certificate5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
Graduates over time
English Language and Literature/Letters completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,082 |
| 2013 | 2,359 |
| 2014 | 2,033 |
| 2015 | 1,614 |
| 2016 | 1,474 |
| 2017 | 1,268 |
| 2018 | 1,167 |
| 2019 | 1,106 |
| 2020 | 1,043 |
| 2021 | 859 |
| 2022 | 897 |
| 2023 | 812 |
| 2024 | 1,005 |
| 2025 | 869 |
Top 50 institutions for English Language and Literature/Letters, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sMaster's | 165 | 75% | — | $21,591 |
| 2 | Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 86 | 68% | $24,278 | $17,237 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 78 | 86% | — | $21,788 |
| 4 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KSPublicBachelor's | 67 | 48% | — | — |
| 5 | Shasta College Redding, CAPublicAssociate's | 48 | 23% | — | — |
| 6 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 48 | 67% | — | $40,921 |
| 7 | Bennington College Bennington, VTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 39 | 71% | $27,554 | — |
| 8 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CAPublicAssociate's | 34 | 45% | — | — |
| 9 | Laney College Oakland, CAPublicAssociate's | 26 | 31% | — | — |
| 10 | Ohio University Athens, OHPublicBachelor's | 24 | 65% | — | $24,239 |
| 11 | Mohawk Valley Community College Utica, NYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 23 | 38% | — | — |
| 12 | Suffolk University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 61% | $28,895 | $41,252 |
| 13 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MOPublicBachelor's | 18 | 58% | — | — |
| 14 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 16 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 15 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KYPublicBachelor's | 15 | 56% | — | — |
| 16 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 17 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CAPublicMaster's | 13 | 87% | — | — |
| 18 | Butte College Oroville, CAPublicAssociate's | 12 | 45% | — | — |
| 19 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 35% | — | — |
| 20 | Emmanuel College Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 68% | $29,723 | $32,451 |
| 21 | Delta College University Center, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 27% | — | — |
| 22 | Hollins University Roanoke, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 65% | $21,981 | — |
| 23 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 24 | Patrick Henry College Purcellville, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 74% | — | — |
| 25 | Coppin State University Baltimore, MDPublicBachelor's | 5 | 26% | — | — |
| 26 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicMaster's | 5 | 70% | — | — |
| 27 | Evangel University Springfield, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 65% | $17,881 | — |
| 28 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 76% | — | — |
| 29 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NCPublicMaster's | 5 | 57% | — | — |
| 30 | Eastern University Saint Davids, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 54% | $25,146 | — |
| 31 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras San Juan, PRPublicBachelor's | 5 | 50% | — | — |
| 32 | Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 69% | $25,896 | — |
| 33 | Valparaiso University Valparaiso, INPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 70% | $20,155 | — |
| 34 | Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 59% | $22,906 | — |
| 35 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicDoctoral | 3 | 64% | — | — |
| 36 | Illinois State University Normal, ILPublicMaster's | 2 | 65% | — | — |
| 37 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicDoctoral | 2 | 93% | — | — |
| 38 | George Fox University Newberg, ORPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 72% | $26,564 | — |
| 39 | Dakota State University Madison, SDPublicBachelor's | 2 | 51% | — | — |
| 40 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VAPublicMaster's | 2 | 46% | — | — |
| 41 | Radford University Radford, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 49% | — | — |
| 42 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 64% | — | — |
| 43 | Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 70% | $25,578 | — |
| 44 | Earlham College Richmond, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 69% | $23,213 | — |
| 45 | Wartburg College Waverly, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 64% | $20,228 | — |
| 46 | Doane University Crete, NEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 57% | $25,103 | — |
| 47 | Essex County College Newark, NJPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 20% | — | — |
| 48 | Passaic County Community College Paterson, NJPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 19% | — | — |
| 49 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 88% | $29,023 | — |
| 50 | Ohio University - Lancaster Campus Lancaster, OHPublicBachelor's | 1 | 14% | — | $24,239 |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader English Language and Literature/Letters field (CIP 23.99) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 24 states & territories
Where English Language and Literature/Letters graduates come from. Each state links to all English Language and Literature/Letters programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1123, English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the English Language and Literature/Letters program often pursue careers as postsecondary English language and literature teachers. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with about 5,100 annual openings and a median wage of $78,270, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 23.9999
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1123 | $78,760 | 0.0% Little or no change | ~5,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in English Language and Literature/Letters programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Teach writing or communication classes.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Associate's degree, as well as an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, writing, speaking, critical thinking, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can pursue a career as a postsecondary English language and literature teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The outlook shows little or no change, with about 5,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for English Language and Literature/Letters?+
English Language and Literature/Letters is CIP 23.9999 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within English Language and Literature/Letters (CIP 23.99). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in English language and literature not listed above.
How many institutions offer English Language and Literature/Letters programs?+
52 U.S. institutions reported English Language and Literature/Letters graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 24 states & territories, awarding 869 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all English Language and Literature/Letters graduates.
How much do English Language and Literature/Letters graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which English Language and Literature/Letters most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,760 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader English Language and Literature/Letters field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,239, College Scorecard.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all English Language and Literature/Letters graduates, so its figures match the English Language and Literature/Letters program page.
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